A/N: Hm... I've begun to notice the lack of response now from reviews... (shrugs) Oh well, can't always win. I really should see what the view rate is... I bet it's gone down... But hey, I'm enjoying myself, that's the best review I can get! ^/_\^
Anyway, let's continue on from the last chapter... I wonder... Will there be a clow card here? Guess I won't get to stop at episode 35... Or will I?
4 to go...
XXXXXXX
Three days... Three days had passed since that day and neither Naruto nor Sakura had yet to awaken. Sakura Haruno was constantly checking them and there was no change, like their bodies were frozen in time... There was no loss of fluids... And no degeneration or any kind, it was strange, it really made her wonder.
It was also scary, because their bodies were frozen; there was no recovery in Sakura's form. Sometime during the night after she had finished what she could and bandaged what she could. There must have been some sort of act that caused this, and she can only conclude it's connected with the kyuubi chakra somehow.
The room was quiet as the sun rose for a new day. 'Sakura...' Kero looked on worried from his resting spot. 'You two have to recover soon... If neither of you can't act as the cardcaptor. Who will I have to see to next?' With a sigh, Kero floated over the clow book. They had gathered so many cards, they were half way there, and they couldn't stop now after all this. 'You're getting stronger Sakura, and at such an amazing pace, the pair of you, so please, hurry up and get better...' Kero looked back at the pair before sitting down, his gaze to the desk. 'What kind of guardian am I? First Illusion, then this... If only we had fiery and earthy... This wouldn't be like this; I could have been more aid to her... To them...'
Slowly around Naruto a fine white mist rolled off. His right hand twitched as his skin rippled like boiling water as flicker of energy crossed his form. Clenching his eyes shut, Naruto's slowly opened, they turned from white, to red and then to blue. Blinking, Naruto sat up abruptly, causing Kero to jump at the sight of the young male cardcaptor. "Naruto..." Cobalt blue eyes turned to the small yellow guardian. Then, turning his gaze to his left, he looked at Sakura. His eyes closed slightly before looking to the bed. He clenched his palms tightly. Kero watched as Naruto seemed frustrated, most likely from what has happened.
"How long..." It was more a whisper than spoken aloud. But Kero heard it none the less, Naruto wasn't looking at him, his gaze was still on the covers.
"Three days," Kero answered, Naruto didn't respond and Kero just left Naruto be. He didn't want to get anything started having just woken up.
"Is..." Kero watched Naruto gazed to Sakura. "Is she okay..."
"Sakura Haruno said she is going to be fine, but she said that she hasn't been able to heal either of you, something was blocking her from doing more to you... Sakura has damaged ribs... And you..." Naruto slowly lowered his left hand onto Sakura's torso, his right hand clenched tightly. "There was cell damage..." Kero muttered, still having remembered from what Yuki had said and what Sakura had found.
"That's the cost for what I had to do..." Looking at his right hand, Naruto looked at the bandages along the elbow up, "Was there more than the cell damage?" Kero nods, even if Naruto wasn't looking.
"She said, that whatever you did when you attacked the thing that was created by create, your... Star dust road... Was said to put a lot of force on the right arm alone... No damage to the left..." Naruto rubbed his left shoulder at that, remembering the affect that came with taking on a false arm... There was no feeling, yet it acted like normal, he would just have to take note of everything from the left side.
"That's to be expected..." Naruto stated as he slowly moved to get out of the bed. "The basic form of my 7 elements katana is the strongest of all of them. "I'm not really meant to use it till I've got the 7 points down... But I didn't think fire and earth would be enough for this. Nobody had any say..."
"Would Sakura?" There was a harsh silence from there at that moment. "Well?" Kero asked curiously as Naruto stepped out of bed and walked up to the window. "Naruto... If Sakura said not to do it... Would you have used that attack?"
"I don't know..."
X X
"Hey guys!" Each one of Sakura's friends looked on surprised as they looked at her like they were seeing a ghost.
"Sakura-chan!" She was quickly bombarded by her 4 close friends as they looked on worried. "We were so worried," Words flow from every spot so quickly that she couldn't catch who was saying what. "We heard about the park being destroyed, they said something like it could be a terrorist attack." Guess rumours had to start flying soon. "Yeah, but can't figure out who would do such a thing? Plus, we were all worried when you and Naruto didn't turn up for classes. We thought you guys might have been near there or even in that destruction," Grinning nervously, she hoped not many assumed that. "And now to see you come to class like this, even Naruto as well..."
Her gaze drifted beyond her friends to Naruto who sat looking out the window. His right arm still bandaged. 'It's been 4 days since create... Yet it hasn't healed...' Sakura flinched as she was touched on the side. "P-please be careful Rika-chan... It's very sensitive.' It was, it was the same place she had been wounded before with the ninja. The damaged ribs really didn't help, but she had to keep going. "I-I know you've all worried," Looking amongst her friends, she felt bad that she would forever need to keep this all a secret. "But I'm fine really, h-has Naruto-kun explained anything to you guys?" She didn't want to say anything that could go against what he might have.
"No..." Chiharu started as she glanced amongst the other girls, all shaking their heads. "He's been rather quiet... Could you tell us what happened?" Sakura shook her head, she had a plan now.
"Not really, I was with Naruto-kun at the time and we were near the park. But after that, I can't remember much. I just remember waking up and recovering at Naruto-kun's home..." Her gaze drifted down, her mind on yesterday when she conversed with Naruto. But he seemed very unresponsive to her, so she left it be. "C-can I go and sit down now? I just want to rest and go about as normal as possible." Each nodded slowly as Sakura walked to her seat. Tomoyo looked at her worried, but she smiled none the less. "I'm fine Tomoyo-chan." She could see she wanted to respond, but couldn't with everyone around her.
Sitting down, she glanced to Naruto. 'I hope you're okay Naruto-kun...' His gaze drifted to her for a second, she forgot about that little thing that he would know if she was thinking of him. He straightened up as he looked to the front and she looked at his left arm. 'You can't feel anything... Can you Naruto-kun...' She had seen his lack of response when his left hand had been on the window, and it had shut closed with a strong gust yesterday. He acted like had been hurt, but for a couple of seconds, he had been not aware that his hand had been caught. And the blood... Black blood...
She was worried for him, how far is he going to keep on going... Was it all for her? Was it because of her that Naruto was turning out like this? She didn't want him to hurt himself to this extent. Even after he had gone like that to protect her, she felt really bad. If only she was strong enough, Naruto might not have lost his left arm. They could have sealed the card and have not ended up like they did.
As lunch came, so did her chance to talk to Naruto, as he stood to leave, she grabbed his left hand. He hadn't even noticed till he stopped abruptly and dragged her into the desk. This got everyone's attention as they were the main focus of the class with everything going on around them. Sakura slowly let go and stood before walking round and asking him to follow quietly. Though every ones gaze was still on her and Naruto as they left.
But thankfully, the roof of the school was safe to talk, no one was about. Which was good, she sat down slowly against the wall that went round the roof edge, her vision with the door should someone come through. Naruto stood staring out at the city. "You can't feel anything in your left arm, can you Naruto-kun..." Naruto let out a heavy sigh as he turned and sat down.
No one said anything as they sat there, the cold breeze of the ever closing winter left the air less than welcome. Naruto let out a sigh and Sakura glanced over as Naruto looked on before him, his gaze never moving to her. Looking to the floor, he seemed trying to find the words to say to her. Looking down, Sakura cupped both her hands together on her lap. "You've never had problems talking to me before... I know I was angry about dash... But," She glanced back over and saw he was still staring at the floor. She had an idea as a small smile appeared on her face. "If you're too scared to explain," Naruto looked up quickly and turned to her.
"I'm not scared!" She glanced over to Naruto, he saw how upset she was before she looked away.
"Then why are you finding it hard to explain..." Naruto looked down as he stared at his left arm. Looking forward, he continued to look at his hand before glancing over. "You're so calm; h-how can you not be scared?"
"I am..." Sakura glanced back over to Naruto as he looked up. "My body has no left arm... It's missing parts of my body which have no feeling also... Yet," He closed his eyes and smiled to her. "I'm okay with it."
"How you be okay with that?" She could only look on confused; he can't be okay with this... He just can't be? "You've got no feeling in your left arm, how can you not be worried, or upset?" Standing, Naruto walked forward a few steps.
"Because," Turning to Sakura, he continued to smile. "I'm doing it to help you Sakura-chan... I'll keep going as far as I need to protect you." Looking down, does that mean that.
"Why..." Naruto blinked as Sakura form seemed to shake slightly. "H-how can..."Standing quickly, her gaze met Naruto with a slight note of anger in them. "How can you do that for me! I'm not worth you loosing an arm over Naruto!"
"Sakura-chan..." Naruto spoke calmly. "You're my friend, my lifelong friend, my girlfriend and I'm your partner to help you gather the clow cards... I said I would help you get there remember."
"But I wouldn't want you to give up your arm for it!" Sakura responded loudly, her arms out as she looked on worried. "You said you were scared, yet because I'm your friend you'll go that far... Yet," Sakura relaxed her form, her gaze to the floor. "Yet..." Naruto's eyes widen, was Sakura crying? His hand rested on her shoulder.
"Sakura-chan?" She shrugged his hand of her shoulder.
"I couldn't do what you could do for me..." Naruto shook his head slightly as he looked on sadly with a small smile.
"Have you forgotten already?" Her gaze drifted up to Naruto. She sniffed as he wiped the tear from her cheek. "You were the first to throw your life away for me..." Sakura's eyes widen. "Remember?"
)"Take this..." The ninja spoke as he formed seals and took a deep breath. "Katon! Endan!" With a heavy release, a large fireball rushed to Naruto and Sakura. Both jumped to the side and landed as Naruto twisted on his left ankle as a pivot and swung his left arm round with the blade glowing, and swung back out to attack.
But his head gained a thob of pain as he kept pushing his body and the attack flew off to the side and passed the ninja. The ninja saw a moment and took another deep breath and attacked. Sakura looked to Naruto who held his head.
"Naruto!" There was no response to Naruto's actions, had he heard her? Taking action, throwing away any fear for her friend. Sakura rushed forward and pushed against him. "Get out of the way!"
Naruto's eyes widen, Sakura, she...
The glow of the fireball passed Naruto's vision and Sakura faded in it, but her scream reached his ears as he landed. A second thud echoed out and Naruto opened his eyes to see Sakura's form, burning from the destruction of that attack. "S... Sa ku ra... Slowly, she opened her eyes, her hand reached out for his as he lay there on his back, and clasped it slowly.(
"You gave your life for me... You say you could never do that," Naruto hugged her tightly, "I don't know what it is like to die for real... But after what I took on when the Kyuubi had me in that hell... Anything I suffer to save you... Too stop death from repeating on you again..." Sakura froze.
'That's why...' Slowly she stepped back. 'That's why...' Both stared at each other for a while. Naruto smiled with a small chuckle. 'You don't want to see me like that again...'
)"I... I won't let this be the end!"
"Time!"
"Gomen... Gomen for my actions... I never expected any of this... I didn't think... I didn't think there would be a point that you'd die..."(
"Sakura-chan..." Sakura was brought back out of her memory as Naruto spoke up. "I don't want to see the same thing as before. If I could, I would make sure you were happy everyday I'm about... But I'm not perfect. But what I can do, is make sure I can see you smile every day. Because I'm sad when you're sad..."
"And happy when you're happy..." Sakura spoke back to which he nodded in agreement. "Everything's a mess, and it seems to get worse as time goes on... All this because of something from our past." Naruto nods again as both looked at the floor sadly; it was quiet for a moment before Naruto looked up slowly to look at Sakura.
"Yeah... Things do get worse, as we get stronger... It's like a cruel result, just because we try to improve... But, even now, we can still try to keep on going. I may have lost my left arm... But I'm coming up with a way to counter my loss..." Sakura looked up curiously.
"H-how...?" Naruto jumped back and moved to the stairs, opening the door to see if anyone was there before he went on. He shut it and jumped up on the roof of the entrance once sure no one was there. "Naruto-kun?"
"I had time to think over the time we recovered. Even though we still aren't yet..." Rubbing his right arm, Naruto summoned his katana. "Yuki... Take on the spirit of earth..." Naruto raised his sword. "Merge with the sword." His wrist glowed and brown energy floated up and mixed with the sword. Taking on a new form...
"The swords changed..." With and nod, Naruto brought his left arm round, in a defensive style. Sakura's eyes widen as a glowing black design appeared on the arm.
"Take form... Earth, shield!" Naruto's arm glowed and the arm expanded, taking on one of those old med-evil British shields. His arm had turned black, but the shield was white steel in colour.
"Your arm," Naruto jumped down as Sakura walked up and looked at it. "You can do this?" Naruto nodded in agreement.
"Call it, an exchange, true, I lost my arm... But I can now control my elements through my left arm like it's my sword." Sakura tapped the shield.
"It's... Like real..." The arm glowed and returned to normal.
"Steel comes under area's from the earth itself, because of its density, I can turn my arm into a shield, but I'll take injury to this, so scares will form should something sharp enough do so, or I could lose the arm over all. But," Naruto stated as Sakura looked on worried. "If I can harden the compound, I should be able to make my arm stronger."
"Did kyuubi teach you this?" Naruto chuckled.
"Yeah, he's making sure I'm prepared for the next level... So he's teaching me areas my elemental skills can achieve, since I'm natural to earth, my power is at its best to use." The sword vanished and he rested his hands behind his head be chuckling. "I'm just like a knight Sakura-chan. Ready to protect you when need be."
"Please Naruto-kun..." Sakura muttered as she looked at him with a worried gaze. "Don't go beyond what you can. Unlike back then... I... I won't be able to bring you back if I lost you."
"Hey," Naruto responded. "Were partners, cardcaptor's till the end of their capture. I won't fall till the day has come. I will make sure you go all the way. And be there smiling with you at the end." Sakura smiled back as Naruto smiled at her.
"I hope so..." She muttered as Sakura turned and looked to the sky. "We still have a long way to go," Naruto nods in agreement.
"Then let's keep going. We can't stop till we've gathered all of the clow cards."
"Hai!" Sakura responded as she turned around. "Think you can learn to get about with that arm?" Naruto nods slowly.
"It will take time, but yeah. I'll get there... You'll watch out for me right?" Sakura nods in return."Thanks... Now let's go do something, we're already the focus of the school with what's happened. So let's keep going as normal." Sakura agreed to that statement.
"Yeah, see you after lunch." With that, Sakura left. Naruto smiled lightly as he looked up to the sky.
"We can do this..."
X X
"Man... What a day..." Naruto muttered as he walked through the park, his gaze in the sky as he rested his heads back in his arms. "Because of how we've turned up..." Stopping, Naruto could hear the machines at work. "And with what happened in the park, it's hard to not noticing that we're the talk of the class... It will be some time before the park is fully rebuilt. And hopefully people will not be talking about me and Sakura forever."
"That's true..." Naruto stopped and glanced back as Shizune walked up. Li was walking with her as they got close. "I hear from Li, that troubles brewing in your class..." Naruto nods as he turned to face them. With a heavy sigh, Shizune rested her right hand on her waist. "I've been hearing things too, but you two don't make it easy... Now," There was a serious gaze from Shizune as she stood straight. "Spill Uzumaki... What has happened to you and Kinomoto?" Naruto sighed mentally, but raised an eyebrow to look confused.
"What? What do you mean? You know what happened out there that night." Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yeah... I saw... But not all of it," Walking forward, she poked at Naruto's left arm "What has happened to your left arm Naruto? What has happened to Sakura? You're not telling us something and I think Haruno-sensei knows something, which is why she seems worried. Genpaku-san has been gone for some time and you and Sakura have been unable to be healed. So spill up or I'm making you." Naruto jumped back to put a gap for his safety.
"There's nothing we're hiding Shizune..." Naruto stated as Li remained quiet, he had come merely as a observer, but he also had reasons to be there also.
"Then what was that soul resonance thing?" Shizune retorted. "Don't start hiding anything behind this, Tomoyo said it to me, she saw Sakura's eyes were orange, while yours were red." Naruto's form slacked slightly, this might be bad. "I didn't get to see it, but I know for a fact, that Sakura had no bloodline connection but with magic only. And I know for a fact your eyes don't turn red because you haven't even made it to your bloodline. So start talking."
"Shizune," Naruto started. "I know something's may seem strange, but it's a process from something's in my training. Sakura and I are really close. It was because of this, that Yuki bridged a gap to combine our powers and multiply them. Kyuubi was acting as our aid"
"Then what happened? Why did it die out? If that demons your sensei, he wouldn't have let that happen to Sakura. So why did it happen?" Naruto didn't respond. "Well?" Naruto closed his eyes a moment.
"It's..." Startling slowly, he tried to think of something fast. "Because," But his mind flickered as something hit his magical senses. "Clow card..." Li perked up at this as Naruto turned to locate it. Shizune growled.
"Don't find an excuse... Oi, Naruto!" Naruto glanced about as he reached for his pendent.
"It's coming..." Li looked to where Naruto was looking and out of the tree a small blue lizard landed on a stone pillar. "What the?"
"What the hell is that?" Shizune spoke confused looking at the lizard. Li and Naruto stepped forward.
"A Clow card... Release!" Naruto called out as he and Li summoned their magical items. Naruto twirled his staff. His left hand out as his right hand held the staff at his back, the top pointing to the ground.
'My magic is still weak; I've got to work fast...' "Li, together let's go!" Li glanced to Naruto slightly with a confused gaze before they spread out.
"Raitei, shourai!" Lighting shot down from the sky but the small clow card was fast as Naruto moved quickly to get in front.
"Return to the guise..." Naruto didn't get to finish as the clow card landed on his face and pushed backwards in a spring. Knocking him flat on his back. "ouf!" He really was having a hard time recovering.
"I've got it!" Shizune yelled out catching the card in the air. She landed and it quickly began to struggle. "Hey, stay still!" Li moved round quickly and grabbed hold. "Naruto! Hurry up and seal the clow card!"
"Okay..." Naruto muttered standing as he failed to notice Li and Shizune glow as he quickly ran up. "Return to the guise you were meant to be in, clow card!" The blue lizard spiralled into the tip and the card floated up and then down into Naruto's grasp as Li and Shizune sat down. "Change..." Naruto muttered confused. 'I wonder what this can do?'
"Nice work with getting the clow card Naruto, it was a tricky critter." Li spoke and Naruto looked over confused but grinned.
"Heh, thanks Li, never heard that from you before." Li blinked and quickly stood. His hand on his waist in a very familiar style too...
"Li, I'll let that insult slide Naruto, honestly... Getting my name wrong..." Naruto blinked confused. Oh dear... It isn't...
"Shiz," Naruto didn't get to finish as a loud yell made both jump and Naruto looked to the other person, Li's gaze looked over and snapped open wide, as Shizune stood looking at her hands panicked... Then down at her body.
"What am I..." Li muttered. Naruto's face formed a funny grin as he pointed stunned at what he was looking at.
"No... Way..."
"I'm... A..." Shizune muttered as she looked down at her body. "Girl!" Naruto burst out laughing as Li looked on stunned having realised.
Li was now in Shizune's body... And Shizune... Was in Li's body.
Oh dear...
"Ah! I'm a boy; get me out of this body right now!" Shizune hollered as Naruto laughed without stopping. A sharp strike to the head from Shizune's fist left Naruto grumbling. "I said get me out of this... Who knows what could go wrong..."
"There's nothing there..." Was the mutter that caught Shizune's ear and a hard thump and then a thud left an out cold Li as Shizune held her fist up embarrassed, this wasn't her day and being stuck in a boy's body while a bewildered boy was finding out something was so not going to help.
So, with a gaze that could send shivers down Naruto's spine, Shizune growled out at him. "Hurry up and change us back." Naruto quickly stood, unless he wished for a swift death.
"Change, restored the two back to their original bodies... Change!" The clow card glowed went round them and back to the card state. Naruto caught it and looked onward. "Well?" As Shizune rested her hand to her waist. It was clear that she was still in Li's body before she looked down in defeat.
"Let's get to Kero-chan..." Shizune muttered in a defeated voice.
X X
Kero's laughed seemed to keep on going as he heard what he just heard, and was only stopped after a swift punch to the face left him sliding down the wall as Shizune had the gaze like a demon fully on him while Li sighed, it was so embarrassing this, for that guardian beast to find out what happened to him and Shizune. Kero might never let him hear the end of this.
"This is no laughing matter you little bath sponge!" Shizune roared as Naruto and Sakura sat on the bed watching on, and listening to what would be important. "I didn't come here to become a laughing stock for you; I want to be back in my body right now! So you better sort this out before I really get mad!" Kero grumbled as he pulled himself together, and landed on a level platform before dusting himself off.
"Sadly, I can't..." This received another punch into the wall and Kero once again slid to the floor.
"What do you mean you can't?" Once he got back onto a flat surface again, away from Shizune's attack range, Kero continued.
"That is, not for almost 24 hours, once then, you two can be switched," Where that book came from, Kero would never know.
"24 hours!" Shizune growled as Li looked down, "You realise th-that's he's going to see..." Naruto and Sakura watched slightly amused as Li's body turned red as Shizune realised what it meant.
"Hey, I'm just in the same pickle as you are." Li responded which Shizune quickly turned with a pointed finger.
"Oh please, I've not only helped labouring women, I've had to help those with Tsunade-sama who were in need of aid. And I've seen what no girl my age should need to see between two drunken fossils..." 'Stupid Jiraiya-sama getting Tsunade-sama drunk... Every time... Ugh...'
"Huh?" Naruto and Sakura looked to each other bewildered; as Li just stared while Shizune looked on annoyed.
"My body is my personal space; I can't have some boy like you messing with it... And I don't want to hear the same thing from you; I already know having also studied human anatomy." Li sighed, he was in a pickle.
"Once a day goes by, Change will weaken, till then you'll have to be like this, and then you two must do the final task... Think the two of you can do it? It's the only way to return to normal."
"What?" Li spoke up curiously.
"Well it might not be too bad, you just simply have to stand in close proximity of one another." Li and Shizune glanced to one another.
"That doesn't seem so bad." Shizune responded.
"And give each other a tight embrace."Kero finished as both blinked.
"Say what!" Naruto and Sakura chuckled as both Li and Shizune looked at them. "What's so funny?"
"You guys are so embarrassed about hugging each other. It can't be that bad." Shizune stepped forward first.
"I, I can't just go hugging any boy, even if it's my own body... Geez..." Why was she embarrassed about hugging anyway? It was her body after all, not really a boy, even if Li was in it. Li seemed a little more calmed down.
"It would be strange hugging yourself... B-but I've never really hugged a girl before outside being done so by my sisters or Meiling.. So it would be a little strange being hugged by some else..." Shizune sighed.
"I hope Tou-san doesn't notice..."
X X
It was late afternoon back at the Namimaki residence. "Man... This is going to be a long, night." Li stated as he stood in Shizune's room. "I wonder why Shizune said to not go round her tou-san if possible tonight."
"Ah Shizune-chan..." Jumping slightly, Li quickly turned to see Ray standing at the entrance to the loft converted bedroom.
"H-hai..." Ray raised an eyebrow at Li. 'Damn... I shouldn't have been nervous...' Ray stepped into the room and walked up. Li smiled as best he could without being nervous.
"You okay Shizune?" Li quickly nods as Ray crouched down and looked straight at him. What was with this guy? Ray smiled as he put a hand on his head. "Good, I'm ordering dinner tonight..." Li followed Ray's movements as he stood. "With Genpaku still off who knows where, Sakura's not really up for much, so I'm taking roll for the place till everything sorts itself out... Man... Anyway, get cleaned up, I'm ordering dinner in half an hour..." With that he descended from the room. "Pizza tonight you guys!"
"What! No way, not again!" Naruto yelled out and Li sighed with relief, hopefully Shizune wasn't doing as bad as he was.
But if only he knew the trouble that was brewing...
"Tada!" Shizune cheered as she posed before Meiling, who was in hysterics.
"I shouldn't be laughing... But seeing Syaoran do this..." Shizune chuckled also as Meiling continued to laugh. "It's too much, again, again!" Shizune chuckled.
"I didn't think you'd find this as amusing as I thought it was Meiling-chan... Who would have thought dressing up Li's body and posing would be that much of a laugh." Meiling calmed down slightly. But looking at Shizune again, she burst out laughing.
"B...but you've got him wearing girl's clothes, hahaha." Shizune twirled round and posed.
"Hey, may as well have fun while I'm stuck like this... Oh! And get a camera." Meiling stopped with an open mouth in shock, oh, this would be too much. "We're going to keep these memories for a long time to come."
"I know I shouldn't... Not to Syoaran... But... Oh I just can't let this go by!" She quickly scurried off and Shizune smiled as she walked up to the sliding door.
"Least I'll be able to have happy memories of this... Don't you do something stupid Li..."
X X
"So, how was school?" Ray spoke in a cheerful tone, Sakura was quietly looking at her food while Naruto seemed disinterested in it, Naruto was normal, Sakura, he could understand. His little girl Shizune... Who had as much interested in pizza as he did, seem to be staring at it? "Something wrong Shizune-chan?"
Naruto made a slight glance over as Li glanced from the food to Ray. "Huh?" Naruto mentally sighed, looks like Li's going to blow his cover.
"You seem a little... Spaced out? Something on your mind?" Li looked down, what should he say?
"N-nothing, just been a lot of school work, that's all. That and catching clow cards with Li and Naruto..." Li jumped as a fork stood on the table, having been stabbed into it.
"That boy again, I can't have you going around with young boys like Li... Not until you're old enough and I'm in a retirement home." Li looked on confused, did Ray have a problem with all boys round Shizune? Or just him?
"Ray-san," Sakura spoke up. "You can't be acting like a hawk over Shizune, if she fancies Li you can't stop her."
"Th-that's not..." Naruto chuckled; Li was digging Shizune a hole for her. "Sh, I don't fancy Li..." Li responded having almost messed up.
"Well that's good," Ray stated as he punched a gloved fist. Fire bust to life on them. "I'd hate to have to make him... Disappear." Li mentally gulped, Ray-san was very... Protective. "So that boys not bugging you..." Li quickly shook his head as Ray looked to Naruto curiously. "Why were you laughing Naruto-chan?"
"N-nothing, just remembered something funny that's all... Anyway," Naruto stated hopping off the chair. "I'm finished," Ray looked at the untouched pizza. Oh well, more for him. "I've got homework..." With that Naruto departed.
"So, are you going to eat, Shizune-chan?" Li looked at the food. It really... It didn't seem to sit with him tonight to try something new.
"I'm not really hungry... I'll be heading to bed." Li quickly departed quicker than Naruto.
"And go have a bath, I told you already, don't make me force you, I'm won't have you going to bed all dirty, it's a bad habit to start picking up." Li stopped round the corner, a drop of sweat appeared. He was hoping to avoid it, but it looks like some evil person was going to make sure he... had a bath.
As Li reached the top of the stairs, Naruto left the bathroom. They made eye contact before Naruto walked on bye. "Good luck..." Li glared, he can do this...
No he can't... But he had no choice. He turned to Naruto quickly only to be hit with a towel.
"Get Shizune's Pj's, before having a wash... No harm there right?" Li nodded slowly. Naruto sat on his bed and pulled out a manga book, and waited for several minutes before a red faced Li passed. Stepping into the bathroom, his movements were stiff as he looked at the mirror. Shizunes face looking back.
'Girl's have such weird underclothing...' Setting the Pj's down, he stood there for several minutes... And sighed as he looked at the mirror upset he was stuck in such a situaton. 'Damn it... Why me... I should be able to handle this.' Rubbing his eyes, he looked back at the mirror. He blinked, not only could he not remember the last time he cried, but... It was strange, seeing Shizune cry. Even in his current state, it was like looking at a different side of Shizune. Almost, cu-
Shaking his head, Li blinked, where had that come from? Looking down, Li sighed again, here goes... It couldn't be that different... Right?
Li left redder than anything possible as Naruto thought a large tomato had floated by as Li walked passed. Getting to Shizune's room, Li sat down, his head steaming. 'I'm going to just sleep this off, and think of better things... I want to get this out of my memory... But,' Li hung his head. 'I've got to face it all for the morning again... Who is the tormentor that's torturing me out there?'
X X
A new day for both Li and Shizune, Ray having gone to work early left Li relived, he didn't want to face it again. Luckily, Shizune was waiting with Meiling as she had to show Li to her classroom. It wasn't too bad, he didn't know that the work would be that much more difficult, but he made it through, but it felt sort of lonely without everyone else... Did Shizune feel that same?
Shizune enjoyed her time in class, it was so much easier, and she enjoyed it even more since she was in the same class as Naruto, Sakura, Tomoyo and Meiling. If only she was a year younger... Damn age difference.
As the school day came to an end, Li stood waiting outside the school for everyone to turn up, and they did talking happily away with themselves. A quick cough and they all looked to Li. "Don't you think, it's time to get this over with?" Shizune nods.
"I agree, but, it was fun while it lasted... Let's head to the park, not many people go about due to repairs going on and the rumours." Naruto and Sakura nod, Tomoyo followed behind with Meiling, having heard what happened during lunch.
Once they reached the park, Naruto summoned his staff as Meiling and Tomoyo watched from a distance as they looked out encase someone was coming. Sakura stood with Naruto and Li and Shizune stood a couple steps apart.
"I wonder what it be like to switch places Naruto-kun?" Sakura muttered as Naruto shrugged.
"Doesn't look fun from Li's point of view... So, you guy's ready." Both nod.
"Make it quick Naruto." Shizune called. Naruto nods as both turned to each other. "Here goes..." Li glanced down, before looking up as Shizune held her arms out. Li didn't move and Shizune glared. "Don't be scared you idiot, now hug me." Li stepped forward and both embarrassed.
"Let's go!" Naruto called as he threw Change forward. "Reunite their souls to their original beings, Change!" The card glowed as Naruto pointed his staff forward and it shot out and spiralled round them. And seconds later, change was gone and back into a card. With a twirl of his staff, Naruto sealed his item away. "So... Did it work?"
"Li..." Shizune spoke, from the right body. "You can let go now..." Like he'd just been burnt, Li hopped back. His cheeks red and Shizune looked on curiously before chuckling. "What's the matter, you shy Li?" Li tried to look calm as she smiled. But for some reason, it had affect on him. Turning round, he quickly walked off.
"I'm going home now... It's been a long two days... Later." Meiling waved before following. Shizune chuckled as Naruto and Sakura glanced to each other. That smiled seemed so out of place with her. But they said nothing as Tomoyo walked up. There was curious smile on her face as she looked from Shizune to Li.
"Hmmm... Interesting."
'What's interesting?' Naruto and Sakura asked themselves.
Li sighed once returned to his home, it felt good, to be in his own body and to be in his own room. "It's good to be me..." Setting his stuff down, he noticed something on the counter of his bed. A letter with his name on it? Opening it, it was photos? 'What's this?' Flipping it round, he stared a second before his face paled and his jaw dropped rapidly as he looked on shocked. 'What is this?' What was he doing in girl's clothing...
"Shizune! Meiling!"
Shizune smiled as she set the photo down on the draws. "Yeah..." Shizune muttered with a stretch. "Best day ever yesterday, I wonder what Li thinks of his little gift." Shizune muttered with a small smile. 'It'll be our little secret.'
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Hehe, I couldn't resist this sort of chapter. I had planned for Li and Shizune with change since back when she came into the story.
And now Naruto has change into his list and Li's been through hell. XP
Also, I think I'll use the ) for flashbacks and not the x x spilt up ( to keep the story going.
For a bit I had forgotten about Sakura during Loop... And so did she, but I mean, would you really want to remember how you died after coming back to life? I don't think you want to keep with you right, and it had been a while, so with everything else going on around them. She was bound to forget.
Next is freeze, then is the town quiz and finally the fiery. I plan to finish on the end of the first series. And man, people are really wanting me to get back to my hikari Naruto story. But I must hold to my rules, I've got to keep going. So hang on my digital fan readers. I won't be much longer!
I hope you guys like my small redo of that scene from the ninja attack chapter, I thought it might be more fun to retype it, than copy and paste.
And can anyone guess what Naruto's new sword is before it's too late? I though the arm shield was a good idea, Chad from bleach makes good use out of it.
Also, we still have 3 chapters left before the movie, you guys going to come up with something? Or, do you want the same ccs movie... Or, do you want me to come up with something. Remember, you guys get a free will at it, and I will put it to vote if I get enough. So come on, there's not much time left. The movie will be decided during the 3 chapter of digital adventure.
Anyway, later!